Adonis Diaries

Caton: The virtuous Roman leader and orator during ascendency of Caius Julius Caesar

Caius Julius Caesar political aspiration and constant occupation wars pointed to a deliberate purpose for a dictatorial tenure: Caesar was disappointed with the Republic in its frequent civil wars and brutal revenge against Roman opponents, like between Marius and Sylla… and figured out that he was the leader to bring in stability…

Caton, supposedly representing the traditional elite class among the senators, was constantly opposing the other traditional “noble” Caius Julius Caesar schemes for power in his successful ascending strive. Julius Caesar was politically siding with the plebes (common citizens of Rome) in order to restrain the elite senators who were not in his favor.

Caton joined the troops of Pompeii as Caesar crossed the Rubicon and marched to Rome with his 10 legions.

Pompeii had decided to move his legions outside Italy to the Roman provinces in Turkey, Africa and Spain, in order to let Caesar face internally the troublesome and demanding Romans.

Julius Caesar had dedicated the temple of Jupiter Capitolin to “Caius Julius Caesar, Half God” and a statue of him driving a char on a globe, and was appointed dictator for 10 years.

Caius Julius Caesar defeated Pompeii in Greece and tackled him to Egypt, where the Egyptian assassinated him. Caius Julius Caesar defeated the lieutenants of Pompeii in Spain and then Africa, where Caton was leading an army.

Caton committed suicide by plunging a dagger into his chest. He was in the city of Utique (current Tunisia) and had spent the night reading Plato’s volume on the survival of the soul after death. Caton last words were: “Virtue, you are but a word”

Julius Caesar reacted: “Oh Caton, I envy your death: You have robbed my intention for clemency to let you live…”

After Caesar offered his daughter Julia in marriage to Pompeii (30 years difference in age), Caton lambasted this alliance:

“It is intolerable to prostitute the public authority by marriages that use women as means to distributing provinces, armies and power among politicians. With Caesar, the people has installed a tyrant in the citadel…”

Caton lambasted Caesar’s frequent wars of occupations in France (Gaule) and England, for no excuses but to allow his legions to plunder towns and villages in order to maintain his status as proconsul for 5 more years, and keep his legions (the backbone of any sustainable power).

Caesar was the ultimate Roman leader in cruelty and arrogance, and slaughtered about one million French in his countless criss-crossing campaigns to occupy this land and attached it to Rome as a province.

Cicero, in order to frustrate Caesar, kept exalting the “Stoic of Utique” , the “Great virtuous ” and “Caton is still larger than his reputation” after his death.

Senator Caton was the grandson of Caton the Elder and the half brother of Servilia, the lover of Julius and mother of Brutus.